Amphetamines

Amphetamines are a stimulant (or ‘upper’) drug that speeds up messages sent to and from the brain. They include things like speed, meth and ice. Amphetamines make you feel hyped up and agitated.

This can help if:

you want to know what drugs are classified as amphetamines

you’re curious about what amphetamines do to you

you want to know about the negative effects of amphetamines.

What are amphetamines?

Amphetamines are classified as stimulant drugs. This means they make you feel alert and full of energy. Some of the different drugs in the amphetamine family include:

methamphetamine (or ‘meth’)

speed

ice

shabu

crystal meth.

What do amphetamines do to you?

Taking amphetamine can make you feel:

awake, energised, confident, happy or euphoric

more talkative, or agitated

aggressive

confused (scattered or sketchy)

paranoid, anxious or depressed.

Amphetamines can also affect you physically by:

making you clench your jaw a lot

making you sweaty

causing hot and cold flushes

causing headaches, dizziness and restlessness

increasing your heart rate or making your heart beat irregularly

making your skin pale

making you sick if you mix them with other drugs or alcohol.

In the long run, taking amphetamines regularly can:

lead to anxiety, depression and sleep issues

create constant paranoia or confusion

lead to psychosis

make you violent for no apparent reason

increase your blood pressure

lead to an amphetamine addiction.

How do I know if I’m addicted to amphetamines?

Amphetamine drugs are highly addictive, and you can develop an unhealthy relationship with them after only one or two uses. Here are some signs that amphetamines are becoming a problem:

You think all the time about taking amphetamines.

You get anxious if you think you won’t be able to get any.

You need to take amphetamines to feel ‘normal’.

You need amphetamines to start the day.

You feel like your perception of reality is starting to change.

Amphetamines are causing issues with your friends and family.

You’re doing things that are illegal or out of character to get amphetamines.

If you recognise any of the above signs in yourself, it’s important that you get help. You can talk to a doctor, a nurse, or a mental health worker such as a counsellor or a psychologist. Try using the ReachOut NextStep tool to get you connected with a service that’s right for you.